FAST READ
- International Literacy Day 2026 celebrations concluded with the ULLAS Mela in New Delhi.
- The programme emphasised continued learning and last-mile educational empowerment.
- ULLAS links adult literacy with functional skills and lifelong learning.
WHY IN NEWS
- International Literacy Day 2026 celebrations placed ULLAS and adult learning in focus through the national ULLAS Mela in New Delhi.
- The programme is relevant because India's literacy challenge increasingly concerns not only basic reading and numeracy but also lifelong learning, digital skills and last-mile inclusion.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- International Literacy Day: 8 September.
- 2026 celebration concluded on 9 September.
- Celebrations ran for 2 days.
- ULLAS Mela was held in New Delhi.
- ULLAS stands for Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
- Focus: adults aged 15 years and above who missed formal schooling.
- Programme design has 5 broad components.
- Foundational literacy and numeracy is a core component.
- Critical life skills are included.
- Basic education and vocational skills are included.
- Continuing education is included.
- States/UTs participate through volunteer-based teaching and community mobilisation.
PRELIMS
- Adult literacy is broader than the ability to sign one's name; functional literacy includes numeracy and practical life skills.
- ULLAS uses volunteerism and community participation.
- Lifelong learning is linked to citizenship, financial inclusion, health awareness and access to government services.
QUICK REVISION
- ULLAS = Understanding of Lifelong Learning for All in Society.
- Target: adults 15+ who missed formal schooling.
- Five broad components include FLN, life skills and continuing education.
- International Literacy Day: 8 September.
- Key idea: functional literacy is wider than basic reading.
PROBABLE OBJECTIVE QUESTION
With reference to ULLAS, consider the following statements:
- It targets adult learners who missed formal schooling.
- Its design includes functional and continuing-learning components beyond basic reading.
- It is exclusively a scholarship scheme for university students. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
